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31st December 2015

World's first in-office paper recycling system

Epson has announced "PaperLab", the world's first in-office papermaking system that turns waste paper into new sheets.

 

epson paperlab 2015 technology

 

Epson Corporation has developed what it believes to be the world's first compact, in-office papermaking system capable of producing new paper from securely shredded waste paper, without the use of water. Epson plans to put the new "PaperLab" into commercial production in Japan in 2016, with sales in other regions to be decided at a later date. Businesses and government offices that install a PaperLab in a backyard area will be able to produce new paper of various sizes, thicknesses, and types – from office paper and business cards, to paper that is coloured and scented.

Paper is traditionally made from trees, a limited resource in a world of ever-increasing demand. As a leading company in the world of printing, Epson has been deeply involved with paper used for its printer products. With this in mind, the company set out to develop a new technology that would change the paper cycle. With PaperLab, Epson aims to give new value to paper and to improve recycling.

 

 

 


 

 

Office-based recycling process

Ordinarily, paper is recycled in an extensive process that typically involves transporting waste paper from the office to a papermaking (recycling) facility. But with PaperLab it is possible to shorten and localise a new recycling process in the office.

  epson paperlab 2015 technology  

 


 

 

Secure destruction of confidential documents

Until now, enterprises had to hire contractors to handle the disposal of confidential documents, or shredded them themselves. With PaperLab, however, enterprises can quickly and safely dispose of documents onsite, instead of handing them over to a contractor. PaperLab breaks documents down into paper fibres, so information on them is completely destroyed within seconds.

  epson paperlab 2015 technology  

 


 

 

High-speed production of various types of paper

PaperLab produces the first new sheet of paper about three minutes after being loaded with waste paper and having the Start button pressed. It can produce an A4 sheet every 4.3 seconds, which is 14 sheets per minute or 6,720 in an eight-hour work day; equivalent to 13 reams of 500 sheets. Users can produce a variety of types of paper to meet their needs, from A4 and A3 office paper of various thicknesses to business cards, coloured paper and even scented paper.

  epson paperlab 2015 technology  

 


 

 

Environmental performance

PaperLab makes paper without the use of water. Ordinarily, it takes about a cup of water to make a single A4 sheet of paper. Given that water is an increasingly precious global resource, Epson recognised the need for a dry process. In addition, recycling paper onsite in the office shrinks and simplifies the recycling loop. Users can expect to purchase less new paper, while carbon emissions are greatly reduced since there is no need for transportation, with the entire process being done locally onsite. Epson's new "dry" technology consists of three separate systems: fiberising, binding, and forming.

  epson paperlab 2015 technology  

 


 

World consumption of paper has grown 400% since 1970, and is now approximately 400 million tons a year. North America, despite having only 7% of the world's population, uses 20% of all paper. Unsustainable logging by some businesses in the paper industry degrades forests, accelerates climate change and leads to wildlife loss. Such practices also affect people who depend directly on forests. By using PaperLab to convert used paper into new, Epson is hoping that offices of all types will fundamentally change the way they think about paper.

 

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